A month before high school graduation, Jackie hadn’t applied to any colleges. In her heart, however, she wanted to pursue her artistic talents at an art school. “I didn’t think I was good enough,” she says.

That changed when she met a North Central College student who was student teaching in her high school. He encouraged Jackie to study studio art at North Central. “He changed my life,” she says.

Once at North Central, Jackie combined majors in art and psychology with competitive swimming and working. “I wanted to do everything and I learned to balance all my passions.” Jackie hosted her first solo art show at the Naperville Art League, studied abroad in Greece to learn more about art history, and planned to produce a show at a campus gallery her senior year.

“I have so many creative ideas and North Central’s faculty have given me the tools and support to accomplish what I want.”